PARLIAMENT

In June 2012, Alemtshaye Gebrekidan was privileged to meet and exchange views with senior officials in the Foreign Office, department of Forced Marriage. Unlike politicians, protocol does not allow us to name civil servants. They were very understanding when we informed them that child marriage at ten years of age was not quite the same thing as early marriage at about 16 years of age. They showed us how to contact other government agencies that were working the whole issue around violence against women and girls.

On 6th March 2013, Alemtshaye Gebrekidan was privileged to meet and exchange views with Baroness Lindsay Northover, who is a minister and Lead Spokesperson for International Development in the House of Lords.

On 19th March 2013, Alemtshaye Gebrekidan was privileged to meet Sir Malcolm Bruce MP, who is chairman of the parliamentary committee on International Development. He informed us that his committee was launching an investigation into violence against women and girls. We informed Sir Malcolm that child marriage was perhaps the worst form of violence against women because it robs them of their childhood and prevents them from getting basic education. These are effectively two life-sentences.